Process applications in a speedy manner: EAM

Krishna also told them that their work load would grow leaps and bounds in the coming years as the number of Indians travelling abroad for various purposes like education, tourism and pilgrimage was increasing day-by-day.

He said that still a large number of complaints were received about harassment of people visiting passport offices by either officials or by agents, "discourteous behaviour" at the public interface and difficulties in accessing information or in meeting with responsible officials.

"These problems should be addressed promptly. I attach very high importance to prompt, efficient and courteous manner of delivery of passport services. Passport officers are the public face of the Ministry of External Affairs," he told the officers, who have come from across the country.

Noting that there is lot of pendency in passport delivery services largely due to pending police verifications, he asked the officers to coordinate and have a "good working relationship" with police commissioners so that the police verifications can be expedited.

"I would also like that this pendency be eliminated, at least in those cases where police verifications have been received, by the end of the year," Krishna said.

Stressing on the need to improving the public grievance redressal mechanisms, Krishna said priority should be accorded to increase accountability within the system so that grievances and complaints were indeed attended to.

"You must also ensure accessibility to citizens in your offices in a systematic manner by way of designating an `Open Day` for addressing the complaints received from the public.
It is important that these services are widely disseminated for citizens to take maximum advantage," he said.